Gameplay is here.
After hearing of the Starstone Trading Company looking for workers for its expedition into the newly discovered land of Altheria, you have applied, and been accepted for a job. Today is the day you will meet the crew and settle into the boat you will live in till you reach Altheria, a voyage that’s projected to take at least a couple months.
The docks of Eaudet are filled with life. People and ships of all shapes and sizes fill bustle about. Merchants selling spices from the far off deserts of Vashar or armaments from the Mountains fill the air with shouting. Their smuggled wares are perched precariously close to the water from atop the floating barges, vibrating as soldiers of Lroth march by on their way to wage war with Drotsk. The tides this time of year make the water deep enough for even the biggest of boats to be unaffected by the sharp coral of the seabed.
Three of these massive boats are at the edge of the docks. All of them bear the Starstone Trading Company’s sigil. The largest one bristles with ballistae and other military equipment. Harsh, albeit muted commands can be heard from all around the docks as if soldiers aboard are still preparing for the war with Drotsk. It’s name is carved into a plaque on it’s side: Pluton.The two ships flanking it are smaller and more nimble, lacking the armaments that adorn the Pluton. The Maribosa is by far the least imposing of the trio. It’s paint has faded from what was once a vibrant yellow to a dull beige. Scratches mar the hefty oak slabs, but at least they seem to all be superficial. The Diadème is like a newer version of the Maribosa: Yellow paint still pristine, sails as white as silk from the savage isles. Unfortunately, you’re set to sail on the Maribosa.
At the gangplank, a charming young sailor introduces himself as Calvin, and takes you to be assigned a job in the Captain’s office. Sitting behind the desk, two men size you up.
The one on the left is dressed in fancy garb, sweat soaks through the ruffled collar. His face is red and he occasionally takes out a silk handkerchief to wipe his forehead. The scent of perfume almost clouds out the stench of his breath as he starts talking. Almost.
He grunts out.
I’m Jaspar Stonewart, the main representative of the StarStone Trading Company aboard this ship. The Captain here nudging the man to his right will be the master of you ruffians throughout the entire voyage to Altheria, and you will obey his commands above all others. Except for mine, of course. Now if you’ll excuse me, I'm going to go lie down.
As Jaspar waddles out of the cabin, the other man turns towards you. He’s dressed in well worn leather, smooth from exposure to the elements. A couple teeth are missing here and there, and a scar runs along his jaw. His calm blue eyes fix on you twinkling as if they had just seen something very funny. He waits till Jaspar has left till he begins speaking in a raspy voice.
Hi there, I’m... the Captain. Now that... he is gone, I am going to tell you how you’ll be earning your bread… a ship doesn’t run itself you know.
He looks to the side and calls out for someone named Alayne. She enters.
This is Alayne, my first mate. She’ll make sure that you all find some way to help out, whether you’re... fiddling with the rigging or emptying the bilge... Oh yes, and don’t hesitate to come talk to me. I love to hear people’s stories.
Once you’re outside She turns to your group:
He’s a good one, the captain is. Unlike some of the filthy maggots aboard this ship. Until you do something for the ship, you're nothing to me. So, what can you god loving bastards do for me?
Gnixgnox speaks up before Alayne has a chance to pass him off to someone else.
"I'm not bad at climbing, and I have pretty sharp eyes. I imagine you already have a lookout, though. Everything else I know how to do involves surviving on land, though. Especially the forest. I'm good with animals. I can cook, sometimes!"
The gnome hooks a thumb at the wolf curled up in the corner.
"Chunks is pretty lazy, though. He's not good for much unless I motivate him. He's a comfortable pillow!"
Alayne's facial expressions become visibly relieved at the mention of "good with animals."
The horses below are nigh but devilish, and we could use someone to keep em from getting us all killed. That's where you will work.
What about the rest of you smiling lot?
Gnixgnox cheers much more enthusiastically then the situation requires.
"I can lift big things," Hanzir grunts.
"I can handle animals too. Especially wild boar."
"I am good at roughing it, and tracking."
"I can swim."
"I fight … he pats his axe when he says that … and I eat"
"Not always in that order."
Hanzir looks around him, not waiting for an answer from Alayne.
"Woods are tidier." he mumbles under his breath.
Alayne turns toward Hanzir and eyes him suspiciously for a few seconds before breaking out into laughter and saying.
Aye, the ship needs a little cleaning. Perhaps you lot will be working that every once in a while. Hanzir, you will be moving cargo and aiding Nicksgog, or whatever his name is, with the horses and livestock occasionally.
"I'm afraid I'm not good for much. I'm good with a bow and a blade, and I can sing or play a flute, but not much beyond that, sorry," Kaylee says as she tries not to fidget. She knew she was no sailor, and didn't have much in the way of useful skills.
A small gnome with green hair stands quietly in a corner. Looking down at his feet he whispers, almost to himself, "My name is Anatha. I watch things, and see how they work. I notice just about everything. I'm a fast learner and can normally do something after seeing it done once.
Also, the fathers of the temple taught me about religion. I can help with the worship practices on the ship, if there are any. "
As he looks up from his feet, you get your first look at his piercingly blue eyes. It isn't hard to imagine that those eyes really do see everything.
Alayne frowns as she hears what Kaylee had to say.
Well, we still need scampers in the rigging and rats to clean and repair the ship. Take your pick.
Looking toward Anatha she sits and stares for a few moments and then says,
You will be assigned to lookout duty when the ship leaves the harbor.
"Sounds good to me."
"When and where do we eat?"
"Where do we put our gear and sleep?"
Hanzir scratches his chin for a moment.
"How about pirates?"
"We need to fight them if they attack us?"
"I could use the exercise."
Kaylee thinks for a moment before saying, "I'll work in the rigging."
Grunval hears the others wondering what he would actually be good for on a ship. After all he wasn't good at anything as far as he knew.
Well I'm not a great blacksmith as far as the Dwarves are concerned but I'm sure I'll be fine here. I guess I'm also good with building things... but not like the Dwarves. Be strong.. you left them for a reason.
Then speaking up Grunval says,
"I've done some blacksmith work and I have some experience designing and crafting all manner a gizmos. How can I help?"
I sure hope that was convincing...
Green eyes stare at Alayne for a moment. Odd, they were blue just a second ago weren't they?
Anatha nods, as if this is the exact result he was expecting. It's hard to read if it was what he wanted or not, but definitely what he expected.
"If that is all, I will go watch the dock. I can probably learn something by watching the soldiers and dock workers."
Anatha heads towards the door to go out on deck.
Alayne laughs
Pirates? I’d like to see some bloody pirates who plunder fishermen and seagulls, but something tells me we won’t have much of a problem with those
Turning to Grunval she nods.
You dirt mongering runts always seem to be good with tools. You’ll work on carpentry and repairs.
Do I need to hold your hands? Eat and sleep with the crew, princesses. Harvey’ll show you to your luxury accommodations.
Alayne points to the hatch in the deck that presumably leads to below decks. A ladder can just barely be made out beneath it.
As sundown approaches you walk toward the ladder, while a few orcs and humans walk by, carrying cargo and supplies onto the ship. Alayne had walked off, cursing about something or other under her breath. A few small people, perhaps gnomes or goblins, can be seen in the rigging preparing the sails for launch. After you arrive below decks you see a crowded area with cotts hanging from posts of timber and boxes strewn about on one side of the ship. You see a man organizing a multitude of labeled and locked boxes. As he sees you enter he calls out
Hi, the name’s Harvey. I am the quartermaster and the second mate and it looks like you folk are the green hands. Pick a cot that nobody’s taken and hand anything to me that you want to be held in safe storage.
"Ooooh! These are nice!" Gnixgnox says, rubbing the rough cloth of the hammock between his fingers. "Very sturdy!"
"Hi, Harvey! I probably won't need these while we're on the ship! But how do I get them back from you in a hurry, if I do need them?"
Gnixgnox offers up his lance and shield to the quartermaster.
Grunval hands over his quarterstaff and backpack with most of his wilderness gear to the quartermaster, keeping his coin purse and dagger on his belt.
"Thank you for looking after these Harvey"
Grunval moves over to find himself a cot.
Anatha keeps his gear with him for the time being. He grips his small sword tightly, as if he does not yet trust his surroundings, or the people that occupy them.
Finding a cot that appears to be unoccupied on one of the walls of the room Anatha sits down and breathes deeply. He seems calmer now that he has a vantage point where he can see people approaching from any direction.
Hanzir finds himself a cot and makes sure it will hold his weight.
He then sets about making sure space is as clean as he can make it.
He then cleans his weapons and other gear.
Even though his kit is already spotless.
After he's satisfied his gear is clean, Hanzir will give everything except his belt pouches, money, pick, sling, and sling bullets to Harvey for safekeeping.
Kaylee thinks about what to hand over, and decides that the bow, arrows, armor, and sword would do. She'd keep everything else in her pack, save her coin and a dagger. Looking around, she picks the first open cot she sees.
Harvey looks stunned as he sees the piles and piles of weapons and gear being handed to him,
It looks as if you all are preparing for war or something but sadly your weapons will likely find use some time throughout this trip. Well, whenever you need these items back, just come and ask me. Dinner will be on soon, much better than usual since we are docked. You should all head above deck, that's where we’ll eat.
After you guys have settled into your cotts, you head up on deck with Harvey coming up behind you and find that a large number of people have gathered. Your group recognizes The Captain, Alayne, and Calvin, and finds over a score of other humans, 2 gnomes, 2 orc slaves, 2 goblin slaves, 1 dwarf, and a halfling.
The Captain shouts for silence, and then says,
Tomorrow we leave port, so Calico really pulled out all the stops for tonight’s meal. Eat your fill and have a good time.
He then walks over to the group that’s just ascended the stairs
You should get to know the people you'll be spending the next few months with them.
As you approach the crew, you see they are loosely divided into groups. The orc and goblin slaves eat together on the outskirts of the crew while the dwarf, Alayne, and four other humans seem to be fully engaged in rowdy debate at the moment. The halflings and gnomes seem to be chatting quickly amongst themselves,as small folk tend to do. The other twenty or so human crewmen seem to be spread about eating, gambling, and partaking in lively drinking games.
Gnixgnox makes sure that his wolf, Chunks, is fed. While Chunks is off gnawing on a turkey leg somewhere, Gnixgnox approaches the gnomes and halfling. Not wanting to interrupt, he waits for a natural break in the conversation before introducing himself, but since he walks right up to the trio and stand there waiting with a smile on his face, they stop talking and awkwardly turn to face him.
"Hello! I'm Gnixgnox! I'm traveling to Altheria with you! I've never been on a ship before!"
Anatha follows quietly behind Gnixgnox, attracted to others that are around his height.
He stands at the outside of the group, watching and listening quietly. He does not interrupt or draw attention to himself, although he does glance around every few minutes, making note of where everyone on the deck is and that no one is trying to approach him.
"Hello `nixgnox." "I am Hanzir." "Never been on a ship either."
Looking in turn at Grunval, Kaylee and then Anathat:
"What brings you lot here, then?"
He then looks at the feasting and gambling group and rubs his hands together.
"I'm hungry! Why don't we all tuck in first?"
Without a word he goes straight to the feasting group.
Oblivious to everything but the food and booze on offer.
I don’t often see eyes like yours, son. Y’know, they’re he gestures to the crew people just like you. Now’s not the time for solitude, there’s plenty of time for that when we’ve set sail on open water. I don’t want you missing out.
He nudges Anatha towards the crew, causing him to stumble a bit.
"Aye!" Anatha jumps nearly out of his skin when the Captain comes up behind him. He brings his hands up defensively in front of him, frantically brushing away hands that aren't there, trying to steal him away into the night.
"Sor...sorry Captain. I um...I haven't had much experience with large crowds." He blushes slightly, fidgetting in place. "I'm not sure how to...ah!"
With the captain's nudge he finds himself stumbling into one of the gnomes on the crew.
"Oops...um...hi. Sorry. I didn't mean...I just. Um. Yeah. Hi. I'm Anatha?" He puts his hand forward in an effort to be polite.
Grunval walks over the greenskins. He had never really dealt personally with slaves before and was curious.
"Hello there, fine ship" not that I know much about ships "I'm Grunval how do you do?"
Kaylee takes her bowl and finds a quiet place on the deck a little ways from the slaves. Normally she'd have been talk with Kylee, or perhaps had managed to draw enough courage from her twin to introduce herself. Normally, she wouldn't be eating in silence by herself.
Normally.
Kylee is dead, and now the young archer feels more alone than ever. She pulls the cowl of her cloak low and slowly eats her stew. They'd hate her soon enough. Everyone always did, so no reason to let them get a head-start on it.
"Maybe," she mumbles to herself as she looks up at the group of the crew having a merry time. "No. who'd want to get to know some piece of chaff anyway."
At some point, Hanzir looks about for his fellow recruits
He'll approach Anatha, Kaylee, Grunval and Gnixgnox in a random order at some point.
He reeks of rum. But he is still walking in a straight line and still just as clean as he was before.
He'll try to convince each one to watch him trying to drink Alayne and one of the Orcs under the table.
"Well, come on then! Yurr my beshd matesh an zish ish fun!"
He'll try to drag along each one who politely declines.
But he'll immediately lose interest in anyone who tries pulling away from him.
He's more interested in the free flowing booze!
I sure hope this goes well. The rumors of the greenskins being vile untrustworthy beasts I've always thought to be exaggerated but it's the nugget of truth in the middle of the stereotype that often will get you killed.
Grunval addressing Grull directly.
"Glad to meet you Grull, I have been ordered to do carpentry work here on the ship. What jobs to do have?"
Gnixgnox thanks his new friends for the company and eagerly follows Hanzir.
"Why boars?" he asks as they walk back to the rum contest. "You said that you were especially good with animals, especially 'wild boar.'" That seems rather specific.
The other orc replies,
If you’ll be workin ‘n repairs, talk to Plink. pointing to a man listening intently to the debate with Alayne and a few others. He fixes up the ship most of the time.... By the way, the nam's Morris.
Anatha let's his hand fall back to his side.
"ni...Nice to meet you...ste...Steve. What do you do on ship? It seems I am to be assigned as a...as a lookout."
He sits down on the bench next to his inebriated new friend and tucks into the offered meal.
"Pleasure to meet you Plink and you too Grull"
Addressing these new greenskin acquaintances Grunval asks.
"What's your impression of life at sea?"
"Why boarsh? Why not? It'sh in my blood."
Hanzir then leans over and whispers to Gnixgnox, speaking clearly despite how much rum he's had:
"I have some wereboar blood in me."
"But I was raised in an orphanage and don't know who I am."
"People who know fear more than they fear your wolf."
"Do us a favour and try not to tell anyone!"
"Not yet, anyway."
He then straightens up.
"Righd! Lezsh find morr uv zhat RUM!"
"Your secret is safe with me, Hanzir!" Gnixgnox loudly declares.
Kaylee looks up at the captain for a moment before looking back at her stew bowl.
"Captain, you do know I'm not human, right," she asks bluntly before taking another bite of stew. "My sister and I bear the name Abandon because our own mother and father didn't want us. They just left us on the orphanage steps, probably expecting us to die. The two of us had to stick together because if we didn't, we'd have probably been killed by the others. When we were apprenticed to be hunters, we were treated worse than the orcs and goblins used as fodder. Even the orcs and goblins hated us, so forgive me if I'm not eager to have the crew hating me just yet," she finishes with more than a slight edge of bitter venom in her voice, though it was still quiet.
Steve mumbles something about welcoming you to the crew. Or was it about stew? It’s hard to tell. Either way, Steve seems charmed by the eloquence of Anatha’s speech before promptly falling asleep in his stew.
The rest of the night passes. New people introduce themselves with smiles on their faces - Siv, Tig, Tag, Joe, Rick, Alvin, Koros - the names all blur together.
The person identified as Plink shifts uncomfortably when his name is mentioned. Morris leans in close Y’kno, wit me being a slave and all, I don’t really get chos where I go. Sea, boat, jus another thing. ask sir Jaspar for what life is. Ask Morris for what chains are.
Kaylee, I certainly don’t hate you. I couldn't care less whether or not you’re human. I once met a man who told me something that I remember even to this day.
Say what you feel, and do what you say.
Because those who mind don’t matter,
and those who matter don’t mind.
The crew’s going to hate you sooner or later. Putting it off only delays the inevitable. And who knows, maybe some of them won't hate you.
The Captain walks off to his cabin before Kaylee has a chance to respond.
@ Hanzir
Legends will be told on the Maribosa for years to come of the man who drank half the rum in Eaudet. They say that only the coming of dawn and the ship leaving the harbor stopped his drinking spree. Afterwards, he walked away as if he hadn't consumed a couple hundred gallons of liquor.
*Hanzir, of course, has no idea why people on the ship treat him with a faint aura of awe wherever he goes.
Grunval seeing the general demeanor of the slaves thought,
I feel sorry for this lot, I think I'll be nice to them whenever I can.
To Plink, Grull and the rest. "Thank you for the talk. I think I'll go find out more about the ship from Morris."
Grunval moves over to converse with Morris.
"Hello, I hear from the green folk over there that you are the person to talk to about life on the ship as a carpenter.
I'm new around here, what has your experience been like?
Plink responds to your question.
Umm... Hi, yeah, I fix her up when she's hurt. It's been good, the Captain really knows how to run a ship and keep morale up. Will you be assisting me? There has been a lot of repair work recently...
"I plan to help whoever needs it, but I primarily plan to go where ever Alayne tells me to go. I really don't feel like crossing her. Repair work what's happened recently to need repair work: adventure?, wear and tear?"
After cheering Hanzir on as he destroys his pig liver, Gnixgnox asks around to find where the animals are being kept. He wants to see them before the ship sets sail, tomorrow.
After spending time socializing with the others, Anatha starts to feel a little more comfortable. Still nervous about the new surroundings, but the ale is helping.
Seeing Gnixgnox heading below decks, Anatha decides to follow him on a whim. He heads back towards the animal pens where the horses are kept.
Aware that he would not want to be followed like this, snuck up on, Anatha takes pains to make his presence known once they are in the relative quiet of the open area below deck.
"You said your name was Gnixgnox, right? I'm Anatha. It's nice that there are a couple of other Gnomes on board. The tall ones can be a little intimidating sometimes."
"You said your name was Gnixgnox, right? I'm Anatha. It's nice that there are a couple of other Gnomes on board. The tall ones can be a little intimidating sometimes."
"Hi, Anatha! Here's a little known fact about tall people that I just made up: They're actually afraid of little people! It's because they don't understand us. And because we can easily kick their shins, if we need to. That Hanzir guy is pretty great, though! He has a secret!"
"Everyone has secrets. The best are the ones that you keep from yourself. That's the kind I have. I going on this trip to see if I can figure out what my secret is."
After his drinking bout, Hanzir will go have a lie down to sleep it off.
Making sure the gear he does have there is neat and tidy before passing out.
Plink looks at you thoughtfully,
You shouldn't worry about Alayne so much, you'll like her if you get to know her. The ship is an old one, lots of things break here and their so we need someone to help out occasionally.
Below decks you find 10 horses crowded together tightly as well as a few pigs and chickens walking around aimlessly.